I've been based in the US for the past few months and in a few short weeks will be returning to my beloved Oxford to continue with my PhD work. I'm thrilled to be heading back, though am ever so slightly intimidated by the amount of things I've managed to accumulate during my time here; things that I somehow need to transport back across the pond. Foremost among these are books.
It seems that everywhere I traveled over the past few months I stumbled upon wonderful used and collector bookshops: Raven Books in Cambridge, MA; the always-wonderful Strand in NYC; Bookman Bookwoman in Nashville; and of course my beloved Bookman's Alley in Evanston, where I passed many a day while an undergraduate at Northwestern. Not being one to resist the temptation of a good read, I've managed to acquire quite a large collection which must now find its way to England. The lingering question, is how?
Just yesterday I stumbled across a service hosted by USPS - M bags - through which one can mail printed material overseas for a reduced rate. You're charged $35 for 11 lbs., and $3 for every additional pound. It's not the most amazing of bargains, but it is generally quite cheaper than what one would otherwise pay. Fabulous! It's so wonderful to discover that the postal service is kind to bibliophiles such as myself! Has anyone used this service and is it indeed recommended? Is anyone aware of other cost-efficient ways of transporting books overseas? Thoughts, comments, insights would be well appreciated!
Oh yes, and do have an enjoyable weekend!